TechCrunch: MongoDB’s Atlas database service goes freemium. “MongoDB is still best known for its flagship NoSQL database product, but last year, the company also launched Atlas, a managed database-as-a-service offering that runs on AWS. At the time, MongoDB only offered a paid version of this service (which made sense, given that the company has to pay AWS for its servers), but starting today, it’ll offer developers who want to simply learn about MongoDB or start developing and prototyping apps on top of the service a free tier, too.” Would this help prevent the many MongoDB problems that have been reported in the last year? Just do a Web search for MongoDB leak and you’ll see what I mean.

A new Kickstarter is trying to create an archive for the UK’s first Black documentary filmmaker. “Clovis Salmon aka ‘Sam the Wheels’ has been making films since the late 1940’s. As a first generation migrant from Jamaica, Sam documented the lives and times of a the Caribbean community as they struggled to establish themselves in the UK. Based on Railton Road in Brixton which was known as ‘the Frontline’ Sam filmed the uprisings of the 1980’s, street life, weddings, funerals and baptisms creating a unique historical archive of film footage in various formats which tells the story of the Windrush generation from within the community itself.” The project is trying to raise a fairly modest $12,178.

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

Okanagan Edge: We’re not closed, Google. “A local business owner is sounding a warning after Google continues to mistakenly list her business as closed. Sarah Coffey, who runs Kelowna’s Unless Market, said the mistake appeared on Google searches shortly after she moved the business to a new location in January.”

Meanwhile, more Google Maps, from The Connexion: Pool tax dodgers trapped by Google maps. “Authorities in Marmande, Lot-et-Garonne have used aerial images from Google maps to find undeclared swimming pools – and are filling town coffers with the resulting property taxes.”

StateTech: States Streamline Public Health with GIS. “New mapping software could be changing the way your city is tackling public health. Geographic information systems (GIS), a collection of tools that make it possible to visualize sets of data on regional maps, are growing in popularity for state and local health agencies. These tools work to aggregate data collected from censuses and public agencies and put that data to work to better manage resources and plan accordingly.”

From Paresh Dave at the LA Times: Evan Spiegel has described Snap as a camera company. He tells us what that means. “Though most of the 158 million people who use Snapchat each day are younger than 35, the app’s co-creator, Evan Spiegel, believes that his company appeals to more than just the youthful. And as Spiegel looked back on his firm’s historic stock market debut Thursday, he insisted during an interview with The Times that what Snapchat offers — and will offer — is something all should want.”

Washington Post: Google may have missed a big chance to become a major smartphone maker. “Since its October launch, Google’s Pixel phone has received rave reviews, and Google recently confirmed to the Android-focused publication Android Pit that it will release a new Pixel this year. Yet despite these successes, it seems the phone may be experiencing some trouble on the sales front and may have missed an opportunity to capitalize on competitors’ missteps.”

SECURITY/LEGAL ISSUES

The New York Times: Turkey to Investigate Antitrust Complaint Against Google. “Google faced another regulatory challenge on Monday when Turkish authorities opened an investigation into whether the search giant’s popular Android software had broken the country’s antitrust rules. The investigation in Turkey is the latest legal problem for Google, which faces three separate competition charges in Europe and has already been found to breach antitrust legislation in Russia.” Good afternoon, Internet…

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